In the early hours of January 3, 2026, Venezuela was shaken by what the United States described as a large-scale military operation. This operation involved coordinated air and ground strikes throughout the country and resulted in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. U.S. officials called this operation Operation Absolute Resolve. It marked a significant escalation in U.S.-Latin America relations and sparked a worldwide debate over sovereignty, international law, and regional stability.
According to official records and eyewitness accounts, explosions were heard across Caracas and nearby areas shortly after 2 a.m. Aircraft flew at low altitudes over urban and military sites, including La Carlota airbase, La Guaira, and Higuerote. Power outages occurred in parts of southern Caracas, and videos shared online displayed smoke rising over the capital. Within hours, President Donald Trump announced that Maduro and Flores had been captured and taken to the United States on charges related to drug trafficking and other federal crimes.
The U.S. administration presented the operation as part of its ongoing fight against drug trafficking and corruption. They pointed to Venezuela’s involvement in regional drug networks and claimed the strike was a necessary step in holding Maduro accountable. Trump and other U.S. officials also noted that Venezuela’s oil reserves and strategic resources were part of their larger geopolitical strategy. They suggested that American involvement would persist until a stable transition of power could be achieved.
The Venezuelan government and its allies responded with anger. Caracas labeled the strikes as “military aggression and a violation of national sovereignty.” Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino urged citizens to resist the offensive. The Venezuelan Supreme Court appointed Vice President Delcy Rodríguez as interim president, and officials declared that the action amounted to the “kidnapping” of the nation’s leader. Cuba, a longstanding political and military ally, reported the deaths of 32 of its officers during the operation and declared days of mourning.
The global reaction has been sharply divided. Several Latin American governments, including Mexico and Brazil, condemned the U.S. strikes as a violation of international law. They stressed that military action without United Nations authorization undermines the territorial integrity of sovereign nations. China shared these concerns, warning that the operation threatened regional peace and stability. Meanwhile, some leaders and analysts supported the U.S. actions as a strike against an authoritarian regime they viewed as illegitimate and connected to drug trafficking.